The End of an Era

Well, folks, I think that John is officially weaned.  I can't believe it.

Just this week I dropped the morning feeding, and I was only nursing him before bed each night.  Well, tonight I had a late night of tutoring, so I told Scott to try to put John down without me here.  Scott fed him a sippy cup of milk, put John in his bed, and never heard from him again.  So many mixed emotions, you know?

Mostly I am relieved that it was such a painless process.  And I am excited because I can now do so many things like visit my dear friend, Lindsay, in Birmingham, and hopefully soon each of my sisters in New Orleans and North Carolina.  It's freedom, you know?

But it's also a bit emotional.  I prayed and prayed and prayed that John would be a good nurser, specifically that he would nurse for a year.  My dear friends in my discipleship group also prayed for this the entire time that I was pregnant.  God provided in abundance, even after John was given a bottle for his 8 day stay in the NICU.  And, of course, with John making the switch to a sippy cup, I am also a bit emotional over losing my little baby boy.  (I don't mean really emotional; I just mean, like, "awww, my baby's growing up")

Anyway, I am doing the typical mom thing and saying, time is absolutely flying by.

But, I am thrilled over my scheduled trip to Birmingham for a much needed girl's weekend.  AND, this weekend, Scott and I are going on our first real date since John was born.  Again, a friend of mine from discipleship group has graciously offered to watch the kiddos while we go to dinner.  So...big things are happening around here.

And what is John eating now that he has given up the "liquid gold?"  Lots of things.

What you see above is John taking advantage of Ada's forgotten cheese-itz snack.  And, in the blue sippy cup?  Vanilla almond milk.  And the bottom picture?  A grilled cheese sandwich and a banana. 

He's my big boy.

Still Shouting

We are still thrilled to the core over here.  I woke up this morning, and Scott was still in the room getting ready for work.  The first thing I said to him was, "Can you believe that Ada is using the potty?"  And he agreed that it is still hard to believe.  It has been such an issue that has filled every second of our days, so we are feeling light, indeed.  Scott and I are so romantic--the main thing we talk about these days is Ada's bodily functions;)  But, really, this is marriage right--being in the daily grind of life together.  I am so thankful to have someone in it with me.  So very thankful.

Last night we made the promised trip to Target, where Ada picked out her "prize" for filling up her chart.  Her choice?  A barbie movie and window markers.  And this morning before it was even light outside, she was asking to use the markers. 

This afternoon Ada has ballet and AWANA.  She never has trouble going to ballet because I stay there during her class, but last week she couldn't get up the nerve to stay at AWANA without me.  I am anxious to see if there is any change in her behavior since we have conquered the toilet situation. 

I am already seeing changes in her in other areas.

Lately, she has not wanted to pray AT ALL.  It has actually been a battle, where I had to make her sit quietly and not cry while I prayed for us.  Well, this morning she asked if we could pray for the day--a first for her.  I, of course, said YES!!!  We can certainly pray for our day, and Ada proceeded to pour her little heart out to God.  Mark it down as one of my favorite motherhood moments, and a huge break through for Ada.  She prayed about everything from sleeping all night in panties to Jesus dying on the cross.  It was killing me that I didn't have a tape recorder or at least a pen and paper so I could get it all down word for word.  We have been praying every night before bed, and if Ada doesn't want to pray, I at least make her repeat after me, "God, help me to want to pray and give me a heart that loves you."  I want her to know that even the wanting to pray comes from Him, so to have her want to pray this morning is such an answer to her own prayer. 

Anyway...I am just thankful today.  So thankful for the Lord caring about this little trial in our lives.  It is so very very small compared to the things that other people are facing today, but I am reminded that God knows every sparrow that falls to the ground, and that this "potty issue" matters to Him.  He has absolutely walked me through this.  Thank you, Lord!!  And thank you, friends, for caring right along with Him:)

Shouting Hallelujah!!

Miracles are happening over here, folks.  Serious miracles.

The pink makeup is out in full force, and you know what that means

Potty Success!!!!!!

The most success we have had yet.  And, I kid you not, tears came to my eyes as I realized that success was happening. 

Okay, as I was typing this, Ada called to me from the bathroom, where she had, ON HER OWN, gone to the bathroom yet again.  And since then, it has been a non-stop potty party over here.  I think the miralax is finally working it's magic.  I am actually starting to feel sorry for her little stomach and bottom because it can't feel good to go to the bathroom that much. 

But her confidence level is flying high.  In fact, she just said to me, "When I was a baby, I went poopy in my diaper, but now that I am a big girl I go poopy in the potty," as if the former wasn't true only three days ago!!!  It really made me laugh.  She is apparently washing her hands of that terrible situation, and we are going to simply say that it was when she was a baby that she used a diaper;)

She has used the potty so much today, that her "poopy chart" is full, and as soon as Scott gets home, the family is headed to Target to pick out a treat.  We are all in major celebration mode.  Seriously. 

I called Scott at work, and he is as excited as the rest of us, and, like me, can't believe that it's real.  And the thing is, if someone asked me what worked, what clicked and made her finally use the toilet, I still would say, "I HAVE NO IDEA!!"  Except that I have been praying about this non-stop.  Last night, as I drove to my tutoring session, I prayed about poopy the entire way there, and then as I ate lunch today and listened to Ada cry because her stomach hurt, I prayed about poopy again.  I didn't glamourize anything for my prayers; I just laid it all out there. 

Thank you, Lord, for this day.  Thank you for this weight lifting off of me and the relief that overwhelms me.  I don't know if things will move backwards in the next few days or weeks, but for now, I am celebrating!!! 

And Ada has been diaper free for two nights now, and last night there was no bed-wetting.  Poopy in the toilet or not, we are not looking back.  No more diapers for my big girl, Ada!!!  I am thrilled.  As you can imagine.

By the way, I hate that pink makeup.  After a bath, where I scrubbed and scrubbed her face, her face is still tinted pink.  A terrible choice of prizes, I have to say.

Celebration

 I am so proud of this big, brave girl!!!  We had slight (and I do mean slight) success in the potty, and it is a celebration over here!!!  Thank you, Lord, for a break through!!!  I am going to step out in faith and predict more success later today (please, Lord, please).

 On Saturday, I took Ada to Marshall's (because she had seen this particular item there), and she picked out this makeup set as her potty training reward.  It has been sitting high on a shelf, where she could plainly see it but definitely not reach it.  We have talked about this makeup a lot, and today she got to pick two things from the set to use (when we have LOTS of success, she gets to use the whole thing).

 she specifically asked to paint her own toes, and don't you love the make up in the middle of her forehead.  She also concentrated on the chin area.  Then she asked, "do I look like a princess, or a ballerina, or a princess ballerina?"  And I answered, "all of the above!!"

 John was in on the celebration (placed quickly on my hip after he attempted to use the potty to pull up)

Keep it up, Ada!!!!

Good-Bye, paci

one last moment with the paci

And she places it on the table

And it hits her what is happening, and you can see the concern all over my face

And here, the heartache she is going through, and my double chin--lovely

So, Ann has the great idea to give her an early birthday present as a "trade-off."  So she opens her medical kit, and this helped...for a little while.

But the reality was that when she went to bed that night, it was without her pacifier, and it was a bit heartbreaking. 

She was wailing.  It was bad.

Finally, my mom ended up lying with her until she fell asleep, and my heart was hurting for Ada.  I think this is the hardest thing she has had to do in her short little life.

We still had trouble last night when she went to bed, and it was Scott who ended up lying with her that time.  I was with her, fell asleep, and then John demanded my attention, so Scott and I traded.  And then this morning at 5:45 am, she came and got me, so there I was in her twin bed again, and she was crying and saying things like, "I don't want to be a big girl; I want to be two, not three," and the clincher, "but, mommy, paci is my best friend,"  I said, "I know, baby, but it's going to be okay."

And tonight finally, I had to "nip things in the bud," so she is going to sleep on her own. 

Really, bless her heart.  Today, Scott had to go wake her up from her nap because it was getting late in the day, and Scott said that her mouth was making sucking motions in her sleep.  As my mom said, Ada is in withdrawal, and it's not easy. 

Anyway...this has been quite the ordeal, but I think we are past the worst of it.

I will be back soon with birthday fun and Ada's first "real" hair cut.  I know you are on the edge of your seat. 

Busy...

I have 196 unread blog posts in my google reader.  That is a sure sign that things are a bit busy.  I hate being behind on my blog reading.

But...there are other, more important things, occupying my time.

This stinker has a tooth!!!  Not even six months, and a tooth popped through.  Ada was older than that.  On Sunday afternoon he was chewing on my finger (what can I say?  He loves it), and I felt something sharper than a gum, and, sure enough, there it was.  Maybe that explains some of the fussiness, and his love to chew on anything and everything.

In other John news, though the cardiologist said that his heart was all clear, John continues to get so upset and hold his breath (and it's more than just holding his breath, but it's so hard for me to really describe it), so the pediatrician has now referred us to the neurologist.  I still feel fairly certain that the doctor is going to say that everything is just fine, but it will be a relief to actually know that for sure.  From the get go, none of this seemed heart related, but I can understand how the brain might be involved, so I am a tad bit more nervous about this doctor visit, but relieved to go and get it all checked out.

As for her

Thursday she turns three, though we will celebrate on Friday.  (Thursday is the neurologist appointment in Atlanta).  We ordered her "marker" cake (Crayola), and she has requested lots of balloons.  And the biggest news of all is that Thursday she gives up her pacifier once and for all.  I have no idea how that is going to go.  We have been talking about this for about six months now because I wanted her to have plenty of warning--she LOVES her pacie.  And the plan is for her to leave it on the coffee table on Thursday night, and on Friday morning there will be a gift in place of the pacie.  Friday Mom, Ann, and "the cousins" will arrive, and Friday evening we will do Chick-fil-a, cake at home, and the tricycle and other gifts from family members.  I am hoping that she will get into the fact that she is a "big girl" now and giving up the pacie will feel natural to her.  Ha!!!  I suspect lots of tears.

Anyway...that's us this week.  I am EXHAUSTED, so I am logging off and headed up to an early bed.  John was up lots while in Scottsboro--he doesn't do well away from home--so I need to catch up on much lost sleep. 

Milestones

We spend most of Friday night in here, with no success.

And then, Saturday morning, finally success, and a reward.

John is reaching milestones of his own.  His milestone involves a spoon and a mashed avocado.  He loved it.

In the mean time, Ada is trying my patience at every turn.  Oh my word, the third year is promising to be a challenge.  I want to pull my hair out most of the time.  Our main problem is ATTITUDE.  Any advice?  I say a million times a day to Scott--I don't know what to do...We have timed out and pinched and talked and taken things away and practiced the right way to respond...and still, the attitude remains.  I am serious about the advice.  I would love some right about now.  I love her so much, but we spend most of our days at a stand off, and I don't think this is how it is supposed to go.  Last night right before bed, Scott, Ada, and I spent time tickling and cuddling and laughing, and it was such a treat to end the day with lots of laughter from Ada rather than whining and tears.  How can I make that happen throughout the day?  I do not know.  I am praying lots, though.